The owner of Clifton’s, a landmark in downtown Los Angeles, has given up on reopening the restaurant and nightclub because of too many difficulties in that area.
The Los Angeles Times broke the story a few days ago:
Andrew Meieran bought Clifton’s on Broadway in 2010 and poured more than $14 million into repairs, renovations and upgrades, adding additional bar and restaurant spaces in the four-story building. In 2018, he found that demand for cafeteria food was too low to be profitable, and he pivoted to a nightclub and lounge concept called Clifton’s Republic, featuring multiple dining and drinking venues. Meieran has tried elaborate themed environments, such as a tiki bar and forest playgrounds, and renting out the location for big events to spark more interest.
It was never easy, but during and since the pandemic, the neighborhood has grown increasingly unsafe as downtown has emptied of office workers and visitors.
Vandalism has been rampant, with graffiti appearing on the historic structure almost daily. Vandals would use acid or diamond glass cutters to deface the windows, often cracking the glass. It would cost Meieran more than $30,000 each time to replace the windows. Insurance companies either stopped offering policies that covered vandalism or raised premiums by as much as 600%, he said.
There has been continuous crime in the area, he said, including multiple assaults on people in front of his building.
Meieren closed Clifton’s a year ago, hoping the business climate in downtown L.A. would improve. But he gave up.
Clifton’s suffered several setbacks, including the COVID-19 pandemic and a burst water pipe that forced more renovations.
Clifton’s Cafeteria opened about 1935 at 648 S. Broadway, near the original western terminus of U.S. 66 before the highway was extended westward to Santa Monica. Clifton’s was part of an eventual eight-restaurant chain.
Clifton’s was well-known for feeding those who could not afford to pay, especially during the Great Depression.
(Image of Clifton’s Cafeteria in Los Angeles by Michael Li via Flickr)